More cumbersome than boats but flexible because of their maneuverability through floodwaters and roadways, the mega trucks have formed an important division in the army of volunteers helping alongside emergency responders.

In 1950, singles were just 22 percent of the adult population. Now, they've taken over. More than half of American adults are single, and that may have some surprising benefits — from the way people join civic groups and socialize to how they take part in the lives of their hometowns.

Choose carefully. That's what a a Cornell gerontologist says elderly women want younger women to know about love and marriage. Listen to what your friends say, and, as old-fashioned as this sounds, ask yourself: Is your partner a good "provider?"

Danielle and Alexander Meitive of Silver Spring, Maryland, think their kids should be allowed to play in their neighborhood without being constantly watched. But the state of Maryland disagrees, and has threatened to take their children away — a threat that may be far more damaging than just the risks of playing alone.

Chinese people spend more time and money learning English than people in any other country in the world. More than 300 million people are learning English there. Put into perspective, that's roughly the population of the United States. And these aren't just children learning in school. More and more adults are hitting the English books in their spare time.